Horse Pawing the Earth [reverse] c. 1550

This bronze piece, "Horse Pawing the Earth," was crafted by Danese Cattaneo. The circular form and warm bronze tones create an intimate, tactile experience. The horse, rendered in low relief, dominates the composition, its poised stance suggesting latent power. Cattaneo's choice of bronze lends the piece a sense of timelessness and solidity. The horse, a recurring motif in art history, can be interpreted through a structuralist lens. Its representation engages with the semiotic system of signs associated with the animal: strength, virility, and nobility. However, Cattaneo's horse, with its pawing gesture, destabilizes these fixed meanings. The act of pawing could signify impatience, rebellion, or a desire for change. The composition is dynamic, the horse's body arcing across the circular field. It is this tension between the static form of the bronze and the dynamic energy of the horse which challenges our perception. This piece serves as a reminder that art continually invites new readings and interpretations.